Prelude to a post about what life with a kock pouch was REALLY like for me..

Three years around this time, I had made the decision to have my 5th kock pouch removed. If you’ve been following me at all, you know that was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I held out for as long as humanly possible.

In early June of 2011, I was just settling into myself again following my last surgery which was mid February of that same year. And then, I ended up in the ER one night and I had no idea everything would change from then on.

It was, of course, the middle of the night which seems to be when all emergencies occur, ha. The on call doctor at my surgeons office was his partner, a very well respected doctor, but someone I never saw eye to eye with in terms of communication.

I was at the end of my rope by this point and was sooo hoping my doctor would be the one on call. But to my surprise, his partner called a specialist to meet me in the ER and I didn’t have to wait long at all. This doctor was some kind of radiologist who specialized in getting catheters into pouches that have issues for one reason or another.

I honestly don’t remember this man’s name but he was also not only kind but compassionate to all I’ve been through as well. He told my parents and I he was briefed a little bit on my case. He actually made sure I wasn’t feeling anything he was doing!

As I was laying in the hospital bed, attached to so many things, I just knew this was it. I knew I couldn’t go through this again. But I also remembered how much I despised having the traditional ostomy.

Once this doctor got the tube in my stomach, it had to be kept there very tightly otherwise I would be right back in the ER. The plan in his mind was to leave it in for six weeks and check to see if the valve had healed at all.

I want to go into more depth about what it was truly like living with a kock pouch (continent ileostomy), similar to a BCIR pouch.

I will leave you with this conversation between my doctor and I that I will never forget. It took place at the end of my last pre op appointment in my surgeons office.

Dr G: I want you to know that a lot of the time the first time doesn’t work out. So we have to do a whole other surgery.
Me: how many can you do though?
Dr G: it is never me who tells a patient I won’t operate on them in this case. It is always the patient who comes to me and tells me they want to go back to a traditional ostomy.
Me: *chuckle* wow. Okay well I am in this for good. Whatever it takes to not have an ostomy!

About Marisa Lauren Troy

I am a 28 year old girl who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 13, and since had 14 major operations. I have been in and out of the hospital due to many complications, blockages, and usual UC symptoms.